Airship.



0. J. LAISY.

MRSHIP.

APPLICATION r1150 SEPT. 21. 1912.

Patented J 11116 27, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I VA ZM LAX/ u W w m 1 FIQZ.

I 11 1 5702 1 BY W 1 7944; fl TN O. J. LAISY.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 21,1912. 1 1 89,1 38. Patented June 27, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1 4; g v V a l VWVA 0. J. LAISY.

AlRSHlP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21. 1912.

1 1 89, 1 38 Patented J 11116 27, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

MTNESSES [/w a/v'rm? OSCAR J. LAISY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

AIRSHIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2?, 1916.

Application filed September 21, 1912. SerialNo. 721,584.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, OSCAR J. LAISY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Airships, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to air ships of the dirigible balloon type.

()ne of the objects of the invention is to provide, in a very efiicient and light forma balloon constructed so as to be very strong and thoroughly braced to meet all strains to which it may be subjected.

Other objects are to so arrange the balloon that it may be rotated for purposes of propulsion, may be automatically compensative for changes of temperature, and may be easily collapsed forpacking and easily erected for inflation.

These, and other features which contribute to the efliciency of my air ship are hereinafter more fully described and definitely summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sideelevation of my air ship; Fig. 2 is a cross section of the balloon through the air bag adjacent tothe central set of the spokes; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section of the balloon;-

Fig. 4 is a cross section showing the truss arrangement of wires which hold upright the-vanes; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the rear end of the balloon; Fig. 6 is anend view of the same; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of the compensative valve; Fig. 8 is a detail of anarrangement for holding the rib wires ofthe vanes; Fig. 9 is a plan of the same; Fig. 10 is a detail of a bracket by which theouter end of each spoke is attached to the canvas of the balloon; Fig. 11 is a bot-' tom plan of the same on the side to which the spokes are attached; Fig. 12'is a side elevation of the bracket; Fig. 13 is a detail illustrating a modified form of vane. suport. i v p My balloon is built with a central, longitudinal lattice-work shaft 1, which is shown as formed of four longitudinal corner strips 2, of wood or other lightmaterial, at right angles to which are cross braces forming a box truss of the Pratt type. This truss is braced and stifiened by diagonal wires l tightly drawn between the joints of the cross braces 3. By this construction T have a light but very strong and rigid shaft on whichv to construct a balloon of this kind. Carried on thls shaft are several rings 7 which carry the spokes 8 adapted to project to the canvas.

adapted to foldtoward the rear of the shaft 1, carrying the canvas of the balloon with it,

somewhat as an umbrella. is closed. This causes the head 9 and the ring 11 to slide ashort distance along the shaft 1 as the spokes nearest this end fold away from it. The head 9is previously loosened from the adj acent'sheave to permit this movement in I a manner to be described later.

The form of the balloon when inflated is substantially that of a cylinder terminated in a. cone at each end. To give rigidity to the balloon and best retain its shape, I stretch wires 13 longitudinally from the ring 9 over the outer end of a spoke 8 in each of the sets of spokes and attach itat the head 10 at the other end of the balloon. I also use a convenient number of wires 14. which run splrally in opposite courses around the balloon and are attached to the canvas by tapes sewed on either side of the wire, or are embedded between two thicknesses of canvas. Some or all of these spiral wires may be attached-at sections to the ends of the spokes and these wires, with the circumferential and longitudinal wires, form, in effect, a net supporting the canvas. These wires may be also suitably fastened to the canvas at some of the points of their intersection by small washers on the inside and outside-ofthe canvas, in a manner to be described later. These spiral wires may be inside or outside of the canvas. Wires 16 are shown in Fig. 2 as drawn over the end of every third spoke, and these help distribute the tension of the spiral wires 14-. Wires 17 extend longitudinally between corresponding spokes in each set a short distance in from the canvas. W'ires 12 are attached to the ring 11 and extend through the hub 7 nearest the forward end and loosely through the ring 9 (so as not to in- Q messes terfere with its movement along the shaft) and serve to hold the ring 11 in its forward position when the balloon is inflated.

Secured to the canvas at some of the intersections of the longitudinal wires 13 with the spiral Wires are short spokes 18 which carry the wire extension 19 (Figs. 8 and 9). On these extensions 19 are spiral blades or vanes 20 made of cloth sewed to the canvas and over wires 21, carried at the outer ends of these wire extensions 19, the spiral passing continuously from any spoke 18 to the one next to the right or left in the next set. By this means, light and efficient propellers are formed on the outside surface of the canvas, and, as the balloon is rotated, these pro-- pellers cause it to move. through the air in one direction or the. other.

The spokes 18 are braced by wires 22 extending around the interior of the balloon and secured alternately to the foot of one spoke and to the next spoke, where they are attached by washers to the canvas, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

The balloon is rotated by means of a suitable cable 24 extending from a suitable driving mechanism indicated conventionally at 25, over groove pulleys or sheaves 26 and 27, which are rigidly attached to the heads 9 and 10. The head 9 being held by bolts, or other suitable detachable means to the sheave 26 allows the head 9 to slide along the shaft 1 when the balloon is folded.

The driving mechanism is suitably mounted on a light frame 30 suspended by rods 31, 32 frombrackets 34: and 35. Fromhis position near the driving mechanism the operator has within easy reach a lever 37, by which he controls a suitable rudder 38.

Changes of temperature cause expansion and contraction of the gas within a balloon and are thus liable to put an undue strain on the canvas. To overcome this 1 provide an internal air-bag" formed of cloth surrounding the shaft, and secured around the spokes 8.. This airbag is connected by elastic. cords il with the brace wires 42 extending from the central set of spokes at their outer ends to the hub 7 and the slidable ring 11 of the two other sets of spokes. A tube is placed substantially along the axis of the shaft 1 and supplies the connectionfrom the air bag to the outer air. A suitable valve 46, hereinafter explained in detail,

allows the air to pass either out of the air bag or into it whenever the excess of pressure within the bag or in the atmosphere is a predetermined amount. By the described means, when the gas in the interior of the balloon, and on the outside of the aig bag, increases in pressure, as, for example, from the heat of the sun, it collapses the air bag, forcing some-of the air out through the exit tube as and relieving the internal pressure. When the pressure of the gas is reduced, as

in reaching a colder air stratum, the elasticity of the cords 41 draws the air bag back to its normal position. the air coming into the bag tl'irough the tube 45.

The valve 46, which allows the air to pass either way, according to excess of pressure, while preventing too rapid a passage of the air, is shown in Figs. 5 and T. it consists of a box 4C6 secured to the tube is? and having an internal flange l? with an inclined edge. Bearing against this edge is an air-- nular ring 48 which is normally held in place by the springs 50. The inner edge of this ring as is beveled in the opposite direction to that of the oiiter edge. Resting in this bevel is a disk 51, held in place by springs 52. By this means, when the superior pressure is in one direction, the disk and inner ring move away from the outer ring to allow the air to pass through the annular space thus provided; when a superior pressure is in the other direction, the disk itself moves away from the inner ring, allowing the air to pass between them.

The brace wires 42 above mentioned, being attached to the slidable ring 11 may be brought to tension by drawing the ring 9 to the sheave 28 by means of the bolts, as shown. It willv be seen that this would tighten the bag back of the middle set of spokes, as well as from these spokes forward to the ring 9, by tightening the spiral and longitudinal wires attached to the ring.

The exit from the valve box 46 is through a central tube carried by the head 10. Surrounding this tube is a ball bearing hub 56, over the end of which is screwed, a cap 57 having a hole 58 to allow the free passage of air into the tube 55.

The bracket 35 which supports the frame 3Uat the rear end of the balloon is, formed of straps 60 and 61 passing around the hub 56 and having at their end a cross brace 62 which is attached to the ends of the rods 32. This brace 62 extends outwardly at its con tral portion, forming a loop 63 suitable for a support for the upper pivot of the rudder 38. To reduce the strain on the straps 60 and 61, T provide small rollers 64 mounted on the strap 60 and adapted to bear against the face of the sheave 27. The bracket 34 at the opposite end is similar to the one just described, except no provision is necessary for a rudder, and the cap 59 on the hub 54.- may be removed for inflation of the balloon.

To provide for the convenient inflation of the balloon from a folded or deflated position, I provide a cylindrical sleeve. 65 of any fiifi' material over which the ring 9 slides tightly to prevent the escape of gas. This is also air tight where it is joined to the sheave 26. Thus, when gas is forced into the passage through the hub 54 the .ring is slid manually along the sleeve 65 until the balloonis' fully inflated when the ring is made fast to the sheave 26 by bolts or other suitable means.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a convenient method of fastening the canvas to the cross wires 13 and 1 1 at their points of intersection, and also a suitable manner of mounting the short spokes 18 with their extensions 19. In Fig. 8, is a head having a flange bearing against a rubber washer 72 on the outside oi" the canvas. inside of the canvas is an other rubber washer bearing against the wires at their points of intersection. On the inside of this series of washers and bearing against the inside of the wires is a metal plate 73 having holes in its periphery, to which are attached the wires lhe washers of this series are fastened together in any suitable manner, and it is seen that no holes through the canvas are necessary except to admit the small wire 19, and perhaps rivets holding the washers together. At the ends of some oi the spokes I provide staples 79 (Fig. 10) which replace two of the rivets and provide means for attaching ropes to hold the air ship to the ground.

A convenient and eihcient method of fastening the spokes to the canvas at their outer ends is shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. indicates a disk having two ears at right angles to it (shown as stamped out of it), be tween which the end of the spoke 8 stands and is attached by a pin 76, thus forming a pivotal joint permitting the collapsing of the balloon. This disk 75 is set opposite a rubber washer 7i through which the wires pass, as in Figs. 8 and 9. On the outside of the canvas opposite this disk and rubber washer is another disk, the whole being held together by rivets or other suitable means.

Fig. 13 illustrates another method of supporting the rib extension 19. $0 indicates a wire looped through the clip 81 on the wire 17 and passing through ears 82, similar to the ears 78 of the disk 75, forming a pivotal connection or support allowing the vane 20 to remain upright when the balloon is collapsed.

it will be seen from the foregoing description that the balloon l have provided, while being collapsible for transportation is exceptionally well braced when distended. The wires, extending in the various directions described, resist all the strains to which the balloon may be subjected; at the same time they do not add materially to the weight, because they are individually of small gage and very light.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. in an air ship, a gas bag, a shaft extending longitudinally therethrough, rings carried by said shaft, a series of poles radiating from said rings, means for attaching the gas bag to the outer ends of said poles, truss wires connectni'g the outer ends of adjacent poles and truss rods connecting said truss wires with the gas bag intermediate the poles whereby the bag is held distended.

2. loan air ship, a gas bag, propeller blades extending spirally about theexterior of the gas bag, a series of wires extending longitudinally of the gas bag within the latter, means for attaching the wires to the gas bag and a supporting wire projecting from the attaching means for holding the blades.

3. In. an air ship, a gas bag, a series of blades extending spirally about the exterior of the gas bag, a series of wires extending longitudinally of the gas bag within the lat ter, a series of clamping buttons for attaching the latter wires to the gas bag, and supporting wires projecting from the buttons for holding the blades.

l. In an air ship, a gas bag, a series of wires extending longitudinally of the gas bag, a plurality of disks each having a stud, said stud extending through the gas bag from the interior, elastic washers surrounding the studs on the inner side oi the gas bag, means for compressing the elastic washers against the gas bag, and means for curing the said wires to the disks,

5. In a balloon the combination, with a gas bag, of pivoted supporting spokes for holding the gas bag distended or allowing it to collapse.

6. The combination, with a shaft, of

spokes pivoted thereto and adapted to be folded down along the shaft or extending outwardly, and a canvas bag enveloping the shaft and having its ends connected there with and secured intermediately to the spokes.

T. The combination of a shaft, rings surrounding the same, spokes pivoted to said rings. and canvas supported. by the spokes.

8. The combination, with canvas. oi radial spokes, longitudinal wires carried by the spokes, short spokes carried by the wires and extending through the canvas, and pro-- peller blades secured to such short spokes on the outside of the canvas.

9. The combination a longitudinal shaft. spokes adapted to extend radially therefrom, longitudinal wires carried by the spokes, outwardly extx-rnding inenibers carried by such wires and passing through the canvas of the balloon. and a propeller blade made of cloth and secured to such members on the outside of the balloon and sewed to the balloon canvas.

10. In a balloon, the combination. with a lattice-work shaft built up of strips and braces. rings carried by such shaft, spokes secured to said rings, and a canvas to which said spokes are secured.

11. In a balloon, the combination, with shaft built up of strips and braces spokes carried by said shaft, a canvas to which said spokes are secured, said spokes being pivoted whereby the balloon maybe collapsed.

12. In a balloon, the combination of a cen tral shaft, a canvas surrounding the same, a

slidable head, and pivoted spokes allowing the canvas to be collapsed.

18. In a balloon, the combination. of a central shaft, a canvas surrounding the same, a sleeve surrounding one end of the shaft inside of the canvas, a slidable head thereon, and pivoted spokes allowing the canvas to be collapsed.

14. Ina balloon, the combination of a central shaft, a canvas surrounding the same, a cylindrical sleeve surrounding'one end of the shaft inside of the canvas, a gas inlet, air tight connections between the sleeve and gas inlet to facilitate the inflation of the balloon, and pivoted. spokes allowing the canvas to be collapsed.

15. In a balloon, the combination of a rotatable gas bag, a central lattice work shaft on which the same is mounted, trunnions extending from said shaft, hangers at the ends of the balloon mounted on such trunnions, a car carried by-said hangers, drivingmechanism on the'car,.and means for communicating motion therefrom tothe gas bag.

16. In a balloon, }the combination of a gas bag, of an internal air bag, an exit passageway therefrom, and a, double-acting valve for said passageway.

l7. In a balloon, the combination of a ga bag, of aninternal air bag, an esitypassageway therefrom and'a double-acting valve for said passageway, said valve comprising an outer member secured to the. canvas, a ring closing thereagainst and an inner member closing against the ring from the opposite side, and springs for holding the inner member against the ring and for holding the,

ring against the outer member.

18. In an air ship, a gas bag, a shaft extending longitudinally therethrough, a plurality of rings secured to said shaft, a series of spokes radiating from each of said rings,-

disks at the outer ends of said spokes for attaching the gas bag to the outer ends of said spokes, stay wires connecting the outer ends of certain of said spokes being attached to the respective disks to which said spokes are attached, diagonal stay wires connecting the outer ends of certain of the spokes at its disk with the outer ends of certain of the spokes for the next adjacent disk, and longitudinal wires extending from-one end of the gas bag to the other and'connected with the outer ends of said spokes, whereby a rigid frame-work for the gas bag is provided.

19. In an air ship, a gas bag, a longitudinal shaft extending therethrough, a plurality of rings secured to saidshatt, a series of radial s okes attached to each of'said rings, diskike members for attaching the gas bag to the outer ends of said spokes,

nannies stay wires connecting the outer ends of certain of said. spokes being attached to the disks to which said spokes are attached, diagonal stay wires connecting the outer ends of certain of said spokes in one series with certain .of the spokes in the/next adjacent series, truss wires connecting the adjacent spokes inthe same series, and longitudinal wires connecting the corresponding spokes in two adjacent series.

20. In an air ship, a gas bag, a shaft extending therethrough, a plurality of sets of holding said spokes in upright position, and

spiral vanes mounted on said short spokes.

22. The combination, with a. canvas, running wires within the canvas, spokes extending through the canvas and hearing at their inner ends on the running wires, and a propeller blade on the outer side of the canvas secured to such spokes. 1

23. In a balloon, the combination, with a canvas, of longitudinal running wires within the balloon extending substantially parallel with the canvas and adjacent to it, short 'wire spokes hearing at their foot against such running wire and projecting through the bag, and a propeller blade on the outer side of the canvas secured tctsuch construction and secured to the canvas.

25% The combination of a shaft, a balloon surrounding the same, and pivoted support- ,iiig spokes connected with the shaftand the tending in substantially radial planes to the canvas, and a network of wires for reinforcmg' the canvas extending spirally, c1rcumferentially and longitudinally about the gas bag.

' 26. The combination, with a shaft and spokes, of a gas bag carried thereby, an in ternal air bag surrounding the shaft and adapted to compensate for variations of pressure of the gas, means for bracing the gas bag, elastic cords within the gas bag and attached to the internal bag and -to the means for bracing the gas bag, and means for rotating the structure described.

27. In an airship, a gas bag, a shaft can tending therethrough, a series of radiating spokes secured to the saidshaft, and a network of wires extending""spirally, circu1nferentially and longitudinally about the gas meaiee bag, said wires being removably attached to the ends of the spokes.

28. In an air ship, the combination of a central shaft, hubs carried b said shaft, spokes radiating from said hu s, wires connected to the ends of said shaft and theouter ends of said spokes, and a movable ring at one end of the shaft to which the Wires are attached. p

29. In an air ship, the combination of a gas bag, a central shaft, hubs carried by said shaft, spokes radiating from said hubs, wires connected tov one end of said shaft and passing over the., outer. ends of said spokes, slidable means atthe other end of the shaft to which said wires are attached,

and means exterior to the gas bag for move ing said slidable means 'to tighten said Wires.

30. In an air ship, the combination with a gas bag, of a central shaft, a ring attached to said shaft, a seriesof hubs mounted thereon, spokes radiating from said hubs and pivoted thereto, Wires attached to said rin and attached to the outer end of said spo kes, brace wires attached to the shaft and to the outer ends of some of said spokes, extending inwardly, and a slidable ring to which the inwardly extending ends are attached.

31. In an air ship, the combination with a gas bag, of a central shaft extending longi-' tudinally therethrough, spokes pivotally attached to said central shaft and radiating therefrom, means for attaching said spokes to the gas bag comprising a fiat plate having perforations and-having ears punched therefrom, a pin extending through said. ears and the spokes, and wires extending.

about the gas bag'and having their ends at-' tached. to said plate through said perforations.

32.. In an air ship, the combination of a 5 gas bag, a shaftnextending longitudinally' through the same, a series of spokes pivoted I and radiating from said shaft, meansifor attaching the outer ends of the spokes to the gas bag, wires attached to one end of said shaft and to the outerends of said spokes, a ring sli'dably mounted on the other end of the shaft to Which-the ends ofsaid wires are secured, and means for fastening said-ring in position at theend of said shaft 33. In an air ship, the combination with" attached Within the gas bag, an'd'means for holding said movable means in a position in which the brace wires are taut. 34. In a balloon, the combinat on of a gas bag, an internal air bag and an exit passage}- frame for holding the internal bag distended.

35. In a balloon, the combination of a gas bag, a longitudinal shaft extending there through, a series of spokes pivoted to and radiating from-.said shaft and attached at their outer ends to the. gas bag, a sleeve surrounding the end of said shaft and having a closed outer end, and a slidable ring mounted onsaid sleeve to which said gasbagis attachedwhereby'when the spokes are folded to the shaft said ring may slide plongthe sleeve permitting the bag to colaps r 36.. lln an air ship, the combination of a gas bag, a longitudinal central shaft extending therethrough, 'a series of. spokes pivotally attached to said shaft and radiating therefrom and attached at their outer ends to the gas bag, said gas bag having its ends contract-ed toward the shaft, means at one end of the shaft attached to the gas bag for closing the contracted ends of the same, a sleeve surrounding the other end of the shaft having a closed outer end, a ring slidably fitting said sleeve to which the other contracted end of. the gas bag is attached,

and means for drawing said slidable ring along said sleeve to holdthe gas bag distended v 37'. In a balloon, the combination with a gas bag, ofjpivoted supporting spokes at tached at their outer ends to the gas bag and flexible tension rnembers passing around the balloon in idifierent directlons, means for "securing them to the bag at some of their intersecting points, and means for securing .i2l1 emtO'-the spokes at other intersecting pointsg'j- 38.1111 'a'balloon, the combination with a gasibag, of a: collapsibleframe work within the. gas '.bag, flexible tension members ex-. ltend ngspirally around the balloon in different directions and extending from end to end Ithereiof, and means for securing the flexible-tension members to the collapsible frame work A 39. The combination, a balloon having .a central. axislonger than its diameter, of

a collapsible frame work within the bag, longitudinal flexible tension members extending from end to end ofthe balloon, tension members extending spirally along the gas bag,'- and circumferential .fiexible tension members, some of said tension members being secured at some of their points of intersectionto the frame work.

4C0. In a balloon,"thecombination of a gas.

bag, a'plurality of sets of radiating spokes for'holding thefbagdistended, means adjacent theam's of the balloon "on which said sets of spokes are pivoted, and means for connecting the outer ends of the spokes of one set with the outer ends of the spokes of the adjacent set.

4C1. In a balloon, the combination with a gas bag, of sets of radiating supporting spokes for holding the gas bag distended, meanspivotally carrying the inner ends of the spokes of each set, and tension. members extending between the inner ends of one set of spokes and to the outer ends of the adjacent set of spokes independently of the bag.

412. In a balloon, the combination of a gas bag, of an internal air-bag and a passage- Way communicating With the exterior of the bag, a frame for holding the balloon. dismesses tended including radiating spokes, elastic means for holding the internal bag distended, and said bag having sleeves surrounding some of said radiating spokes,

43. in a balloon, the conihinationof a gas bag, an internal air bag, a passageway communicating with the exterior of the bag, a frame for holding the balloon distended having radiating spokes, said bag having sleeves surrounding some of said spokes.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two Witness'es. v

OSCAR J. LAISY. Witnesses:

ALBERT H. Barns, BRENNAN B, VVEsT. 

